History of the Lodge

Oakwood  Lodge  was  the  brainchild  of  two  members  of  Pari Passu Lodge, W Bro Vic Craig and W Bro Brian Swann, who both realised that because of the number of brethren in the Lodge, it would take 18 years  before  a  new candidate  would  reach  the Master’s chair.   By forming a new Lodge, their period of advancement through the offices could be significantly shortened.

The Consecration of Oakwood Lodge took place at the Red Lion Hotel, High Barnet on Saturday 17th February 1962. The first master was W Bro George Awford, and W Bros Swann and Craig became Senior and Junior Wardens respectively.

The new Lodge took its name from the venue of the LOI which met at the Merryhills Hotel, Oakwood.

As the Lodge continued to meet in High Barnet in Hertfordshire, it had to  obtain  a dispensation  from  Provincial  Grand  Lodge  to meet  in Hertfordshire - for every meeting!

This  changed  in  March  1969  when  the  Lodge  moved  to  its present venue, the Southgate Masonic centre. Oakwood was in fact one of the first Lodges to move to Southgate and its first meetings were held amidst building rubble, heat supplied by portable heaters and members wearing overcoats!

Some  of  the  Lodge’s  members  were  involved  in  the  building  and furnishings of the present downstairs bar